Meccano Clubs, Guilds, Societies and other interesting web links

The information (marked with *) in this section is the best information that ISM had been able to obtain at the time of going to press.
The more extended entries are based on responses to ISM’s questionnaire sent to clubs worldwide.
The shorter entries are limited to ISM’s latest contact-information.
Telephone numbers are listed as if being dialled from abroad — that is, preceded by the international access code in brackets thus (+nn).
Within the country concerned, replace the international access code with the national access code (usually, 0).
"Aff" denotes that the Club is affiliated with ISM

If you would like your club added to this list or update the latest information please contact the webmaster

MELBOURNE MECCANO CLUB INC. — AffThe Melbourne Meccano Club is an incorporated club of more than 100 members which began in 1984.
MMCI meets bi-monthly at Brighton Philatelic Society Hall, Cnr. Gardenvale & Magnolia Roads, Gardenvale, Victoria 3185, Australia.
MMCI holds its Annual Exhibition the second weekend in October at the above location.
Intending visitors are cordially invited to contact any of our Committee in advance, and all are assured of a very warm welcome.

Publications: Melbourne Meccano Club Inc. Newsletter – six illustrated issues per year, every second month, beginning January.
The November issue is an expanded one with colour coverage of our Annual Exhibition.

*SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND MECCANO GROUP (SEQMG)The SEQMG caters mainly for Meccanomen within about 100 miles of Brisbane including both the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.
Meetings are held four times per year with the dates being variable but roughly three-monthly.
There are just over 20 members and informal meetings are held at members’ houses.
Both domestic and international visitors are especially welcome and, with sufficient notice, a special meeting can usually be arranged to fit in with the visitor’s schedule.

BELGIUM

CANADA

*BRITISH COLUMBIA MECCANO MODELLERS (BCMM)Meetings are held every two months (3rd Sunday of the month) at a home of a member in the greater Vancouver area to compare models, sets, and Meccano Newsletters and Magazines, and talk about all the latest news about the Meccano Hobby in general.
About 15 members to date (14-08-2016)
contact: Wrusselll256@gmail.comwebsite: bcmeccanomodellers.com

*MECCANO-QUEBECBased in Montreal, this club started in 1999 and “les Meccanautes du Québec” number about 40 active members, including a few from Ontario.
Our member interests include model building using classical and modern Meccano, collecting older outfits and literature, making high-quality replica and custom parts, holding club auctions to sell parts and collectables to members, and exhibiting at three local hobby shows each year.
The Meccano-Quebec magazine is published twice a year and typically features 12 pages of color illustrations plus 12 pages of text.
Our executive meets four times a year and we have group suppers twice a year to keep in touch.
We also host a small website to show our exhibits, activities, and the contents of each magazine issue.
Visitors to the Montreal area are always welcome, especially if they can courier Meccano from the UK!

DENMARK

NIELS JALLINGFolkets Alle 14
DK2000 Frederiksberg
Denmark

FRANCE

*CAM (CLUB DES AMIS DU MECCANO) — AffThe French club has approximately 740 members throughout the world.
A general meeting is held each year during the weekend of the Ascension with an international exhibition.
The location is different each year. Regional groups (list in page 3 of the magazine) independently organize meetings and exhibitions each year.

GERMANY

*FREUNDESKREIS METALLBAUKASTENMailing list in German language about all kinds of metal construction sets (similar to spanner-group). Registration necessary.
Free membership. More than 400 members from Germany and neighbouring states, especially Switzerland and Austria.
Annual meeting mostly in a weekend in October in different towns. No membership fees, no magazine

ISRAEL

ITALY

*G.A.M.M. (Gruppo Amatori Modellismo Meccanico)Members throughout Italy and abroad. About 100 members: 85% builders, 15% collectors. AGM in June.
Club annual exhibition in late September at Linate Airport, near Milan.
Technical meetings about four times each year.
Special restricted meetings are held for the purpose of building large models.
We run a website at www.gammitalia.org which is also mentioned on the Meccano Web Ring.

MALTA

JOHN ZAMMIT-DIMECH7 St Julian's Hill
St Julians
Malta

NEW ZEALAND

*NEW ZEALAND FEDERATION OF MECCANO MODELLERS (NZFMM)New Zealand based (financial) subscribers to the NZFMM magazine automatically become members of the New Zealand Federation of Meccano Modellers.
The NZFMM magazine is the instrument by which New Zealand Clubs disseminate individual New Zealand Club news, happenings, events, model plans and general information as well as providing international news and articles.
The NZFMM magazine is a valuable resource and is available to overseas subscribers on payment of an annual magazine subscription.
The NZFMM magazine is published four (4) times each year, generally February, May, August and November.
The annual subscription period begins on 1st of April of each year and ends on 31st March.
A ‘General Meeting’ of New Zealand members is generally held prior to the official dinner held during the two yearly ‘New Zealand Federation of Modellers’ Convention’. (Next Convention scheduled for Easter 2019 at Inglewood, near New Plymouth).

Contact for back copies and help with magazine subscriptions: Peter Hancock
Subscription Rates for the subscription year beginning 1st April 2019 through to 31st March 2020 will be posted on the NZFMM website www.nzfmm.co.nz from 28th February 2019 and a 2019-2020 subscription renewal form will be included as an insert in the February 2019 edition of the NZFMM Magazine.

*AUCKLAND MECCANO GUILDThe Auckland Meccano Guild was established in 1974.
The Guild takes every opportunity to promote Meccano to the public
Approximately twenty Guild members along with wives and partners meet four (4) times each year at 2.00pm on the second Saturday in February, May, August and November.
The meeting venues rotate between the homes of three senior members.
Details of upcoming meetings are generally found in the ‘Notices’ section of the current NZFMM magazine and posted on the Guild’s website at
www.amg.nzfmm.co.nz.
It is recommended that intending guests contact the AMG President or Secretary to confirm venue details which may change due to circumstances without notice.
Guests are always welcome at Guild meetings with the only stipulation being that they have an abiding passion for Meccano.
AMG has no formal rules and no membership fees but a plate is always welcome to bolster the Guild’s sumptuous afternoon teas.

*CHRISTCHURCH MECCANO CLUBEstablished in 1929 – running ever since, for Meccano modellers from the area around Christchurch and Canterbury.
Currently we have about 20 adult members but we invite the casual attendance of potential, former or distant modellers, and also the parents with younger modellers are most welcome.
Meetings are held from February to December on the first Friday of each month, 7.30pm to about 10pm.

*MWT MECCANO CLUBFrom Manawatu, Wanganui and Taranaki provinces, with additional members around the North Island. Membership of approx 30.
Meetings are at 1pm on 2nd Saturday of February, April, June, August and October in St. Lukes hall, Castlecliff, Wanganui.
The first part of the meeting often covers antique and historical Meccano.
Then after a business meeting there is a model tour, fish and chip supper and usually an auction.

*WELLINGTON MECCANO CLUBGreater Wellington area – this includes Tawa, Porirua, Paraparaumu, Waikanae, Lower and Upper Hutt.
Approximately 15 members.
Meetings are held at around 7.30pm on the first Friday of March, May, July, September and November and occasional meetings at the end of January.
Meetings are held at members’ homes and the venue changes each meeting: next venue can be obtained by emailing the President or Secretary.
Visitors are warmly welcomed and special meetings or a slight change in scheduled dates might be organised in some cases to suit.
The Club contributes to the national magazine NZFMM, and supports local hobby exhibitions.

SPAIN

*ACEAM (ASOCIACION CULTURAL ESPAÑOLA DE AFICIONADOS A LOS MECANOS)The Club covers Spain as a whole but is not necessarily limited to Spain as a geographical area.
The approximate number of members is 85. We meet every fortnight, always on Tuesdays, usually in Madrid (many of the members live in Madrid or nearby).
The main activities of the Club are the meetings, discussions and interchange of information and parts, preparation and execution of one or two exhibitions per year in different cities of Spain.
Two luncheon meetings per year: one near the year’s end, the other towards the end of June.

*CLUB MECCANO DE CATALUNYA — AffKnown formerly, and now informally, as La Penya del Cargolet (which translates as ‘The Fellowship of the Little Bolt’), the Club has about 80 members, mainly from Catalonia and also from other parts of Spain and other countries.
Meetings every Sunday from 10.00am to 12.00am. The Club’s activities include Meccano instruction every Sunday morning for children and adults, and an annual exhibition.

President: Raimon Ripoll (ISM 142)

Secretary: Jordi Valles Garreta

Treasurer: Julia Azuara Abadalejo

Contact for correspondence:
Raimon Ripoll, c/Madrazo, 81 30 1a, Barcelona 08006, Spain
Publications: Butlleti de la Penya del Cargolet, usually three times per year
Membership: the magazine is free to members and to other clubs who exchange Bulletins.

SWITZERLAND

*AMSclub (AMATEURE FÜR METALLBAU IN DER SCHWEIZ) — AffThe Meccano Club of Switzerland, with some 80 members mainly in Switzerland and a few in Germany, the Netherlands and the U.S.A.
Meetings on the last Thursday of every month in Baden, Annual General Meeting in September, exhibitions every 3-5 years.

*HENLEY SOCIETY OF MECCANO ENGINEERS (HSME)HSME, over 40 years old, meets on the last Saturday of February, May and November, and hosts the Henley Gathering on the first Saturday after the Late Summer Holiday at the end of August (which, in 2018, will be Saturday 1 September).
The ISM AGM is held during the Henley Gathering.

*HOLY TRINITY MECCANO CLUB (HTMC) — AffThe oldest Meccano Club, originally founded in 1919 affiliated to the Meccano Guild. Refounded in 1971 by Stuart Wilson and Peter Matthews.
Around 50 members, mainly from the south-east of England.
Club meetings: Twice a year, normally on the fourth Saturday of April and the fourth Saturday of October, at St John’s Church Hall, Hildenborough, Kent.
Meccano traders attend.
The Henley Gathering (see HSME entry) also counts as one of the HTMC Club Meetings.

MECCANO SOCIETY OF SCOTLANDFounded in 1984, the Meccano Society of Scotland has about 45 members from all over Scotland and other parts of the UK.
We meet four times a year in Stirling, hold an all day meeting in Menstrie and put on an annual exhibition as well as exhibiting at several other events around the country.
We produce a Newsletter three times a year as well running our own website.

*MIDLANDS MECCANO GUILDFormed in 1967 the Midlands Meccano Guild was one of the first of the mainly adult Meccano Clubs formed in the UK.
It organises both private meetings and public exhibitions and is based near Coventry in the Heart of England.
We welcome enthusiasts from a wide area, including overseas members.

*NORTH EAST LONDON MECCANO CLUB (NELMEC)
A friendly club catering for enthusiasts, model builders and collectors with around 50 members from all walks of life.
Covers the North East London area and East Anglia, but new members are welcome from any area and country.
The club runs four meetings a year plus the annual Hainault Hangout in December.
Doors open at 11am and we finish at 5pm. Refreshments available for a small charge.
See www.nelmc.org.uk for meeting dates

Payment can be made at any meeting, by cash or cheque made payable to NELMC, or by credit/debit card or PayPal payment accepted through the NELMC website
www.nelmc.org.uk

*NORTH EASTERN MECCANO SOCIETYCovers area from York to Berwick and across to Carlisle. 70 members worldwide, with about 30 active local members.
Four meetings a year at Bedale, N.Yorkshire. Approximately 20 exhibitions a year at various venues.

*NORTH MIDLANDS MECCANO GUILDOver 400 members worldwide. Meetings three times a year in Oxton Village Hall (North Nottinghamshire): 3rd Saturday in September (AGM), January, and May.
Main exhibition at Skegness (1st weekend in July). Smaller local exhibitions include Lincoln Steam Rally and Abbey Pumping Station, Leicester.

*NORTH WEST MECCANO GUILDThe NWMG draws its membership mainly from Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and South Cumbria.
The active membership is currently about 40. Club meetings are held at the Methodist Church Hall, Leyland, Lancashire, where we also hold an exhibition in March, each year
During the summer months, the Guild exhibits at a variety of traction engine rallies, mill-engine ‘steam days’ and model-engineering shows — generally about six exhibitions a year.

*RUNNYMEDE MECCANO GUILDLocated in the Thames Valley region, about a mile from Junction 11 on the M25 at Ottershaw, with a catchment area covering the whole of the south of England and a thriving membership in excess of 140 members.
The Guild meets three times a year on the first Saturday of February, June and October at
The Chertsey Hall, Heriot Road, Chursey, Surrey, KT16 9DR
website: https://www.runnymede.gov.uk/article/5165/Chertsey-Hall

*SHEFFIELD MECCANO GUILDNow into its 33rd year and with 160 members spread across the world, the SMG is an informal organisation not restricting its membership or activities to the city in its name.
Twice-yearly meetings are held in the splendid Laughton-en-le-Morthen village hall in rural South Yorkshire S25 1YD, not far off the M1 (J30) & M18 (J1).
The April 2014 meeting will feature both an auction of Meccano items and the annual competition which is to be based on the greatest distance achieved by a vehicle driven by four spinning 3" Pulleys.
The October AGM will see the presentation of the annual SMG Members’ Award for the best model on the day by popular voting, the President’s Trophy and another auction.
Good food and refreshments at a little above cost prices, an excellent pub nearby with decent beer & meals, Meccano trading and all in a convivial atmosphere.

A lively, well-produced 64-page part-colour A4 magazine is produced and distributed to members; cover dates are February, June and October though it is usually ready in the preceding month.
Its picture-intensive contents cover SMG activities, other club events from the UK and abroad, models to enjoy, models to build, collecting, other systems and news.
Another benefit is access to the Machining Service that will make parts from battered wheels, modify Pulleys etc to fit motors, make motor brackets, soldering and other light machining & fabrication sympathetic to Meccano at economical rates for club funds.
A weekend-long show is held in September at Barrow Hill Roundhouse, Chesterfield with another possible at the prestigious National Railway Museum, York.

Part-year subscriptions are available at any time depending on when you decide to join.
These are arranged to expire at the AGM so all need to renew at the same time. You can become a member using any of the following methods:
Cash. By hand to John Ozyer-Key or Rob Mitchell; please do not post.
Cheque. Made payable to ‘The Sheffield Meccano Guild’ by post/hand to John Ozyer-Key.
Paypal. Please contact John Ozyer-Key. This will attract an extra £1.00 charge.
Card. This is organised through Constructor Quarterly (E: RobinCQHQ@aol.com) and is subject to an additional 4% bank charge.

*SOUTH EAST LONDON MECCANO CLUBWe meet four times a year in the United Reformed Church (in the Sherard Hall), Court Road, Eltham, London SE9 5AD, and have an annual show at the same venue.
Meetings in January, March/April, June and September; Show in October. Other local events supported.
Secretary s Challenge at every meeting. Geoff Carter Cup awarded to the best small model at our summer meeting. We have a membership of 60 and have been existence since 1976. (The website is updated after each meeting - please check for details).

*TELFORD & IRONBRIDGE MECCANO SOCIETY (TIMS) — AffCatchment area: the Midlands (the Industrial Heart of England). Current membership is approximately 90.
All meetings and exhibitions are held at ‘Enginuity’, Coalbrookdale, Ironbridge, Shropshire TF8 7DQ (except for the August meeting which will be held at Blists Hill Victorian Museum TF7 5DU) and are open from 10.00am (access from 9.00am) to approximately 4.45pm.
Everyone is welcome to bring a model or just to have a look.

*WEST LONDON MECCANO SOCIETY (WLMS) — AffThe Society has about 70 members and meets four times a year: 2nd Saturday of March (AGM) June and November, exhibition at St. Albans on the last weekend in September and co-hosts of the “Magic of Meccano Show” at the Kew Bridge Steam Museum, Greenford.